Here's the next chapter... sorry its a bit late... by a week... Hope ya like it XD
Disclaimer: I do not own Naruto
Memory IV: Found
I have no name, nameless
Without a face, faceless
A shadow of a person,
Invisible, forgotten.
I have a name, red
Red like blood, red like fire
And in the shadow of light,
I am found, noticed, remembered.
Trees tower around me, over me,
They prod me with their branches,
They knock me with their boughs,
Green silhouettes in the dappled sun.
Trees tower around me, over me,
They welcome me in their branches,
They protect me with their boughs,
Green village in the dappled sun.
One two three, four five six
They come to kill and be killed
But those who fail, yet live,
In failing, and living, befriend.
The blonde, the dark, the pink,
The dog, the bug, the shy,
The lazy, the glutton, the vain,
Who are they, children nine?
The wind, the puppet, the sand,
The rose, the firefly... And me
Who were we, who are we?
Friends lost and found, family.
...
Trees. Lots and lots of trees. But unlike Kusa, this was a forest, not a jungle. I wandered in the forest for three days, daytime on foot and nighttime on Yami's back.
The first adult I met in Konoha was an old man. Well, not any old man, for he was wearing the robes of a Hokage. Funny how I literally ran into him after I had climbed over the walls of the village gates (it was nightfall and I really didn't want to speak to the guards guarding the gates.) As Yami said, I was an idiot. But the very fact that she didn't warn me about him had to count for something right? I trust her instincts.
This is the guy who sent your family away from the village to hide from Them all those years ago, Yami said.
I counted. Seven years. I was turning eight this year. The old man, the Hokage, stared at me curiously before asking me what was I doing out in the streets so late at night without my parents. I didn't know what to answer him, so I stepped backwards and disappeared into the shadows. I saw him blink, look around, then his face had the most curious expression before he strolled off. I travelled around Konoha in the shadows-most of the time-from then on.
The place was foreign to me-about as foreign as Suna was when I first stepped through it's gates. However, there would be a few occasions where a certain shop or certain street that seemed so ever slightly familiar. Each day in this village passed by in a certain eventful way, even though I kept Yami hidden from the people's knowledge-something which i had now gotten quite good at.
Day one, I got chased by a small puppy. No. I got chased by several small yapping puppies and a boy that seemed very much like a puppy himself. I was hiding in the shadows as usual, but my guard was down and one of the canines sniffed me out and decided to chase after me as it would to a kitten. I succeeded in evading them by what a cat would have done-escaping up a roof. Thankfully, the boy, who was around my age, didn't know how to climb or leap up walls yet.
Day two, I myself the target of a swarm of bugs. This was the second type of animal to have ever sensed my presence. Were all animals in Konoha so good at finding people who were good at hiding? This time, I had to go underwater and stay among the dappled shadows of the river and it's weeds until the bugs quit the chase. A shadow was cast in the water as someone looked over the riverbank before leaving. The shadows of the river weren't one of my preferred places to hide though, for it is always cold, wet and miserable-not good enough to provide sufficient shelter from observant people. At least I caught some fishes for dinner that day.
Day three, I ended up being target practice for two young dark-haired boys-one of them was around my age, the other was about four five years older than I was. Sometimes, the problem with hiding too well in the shadows is when people don't notice you and start throwing kunais at you, thinking that what they are seeing is just a tree and nothing more. But when I shifted myself to dodge the shurikens and kunais, one of them shot so close to me that I knew it couldn't have been accidental. I looked back at the two boys. The older one was staring right at me, and our eyes met. Wait, how did he even know I was there? I have decided that the living creatures of Konoha, be it human or animal, were all dangerous. The older boy was now pointing at me and the boy my age was also staring at me now.
Uchihas, Yami muttered in my head. Huh? What?
They're a clan of people with a bloodline-limit, a kekkei genkai, called Sharingan. Eh?
Nevermind, you'll soon learn what it is... Uchihas... Interesting. The older one looks kinda-
No. Not tasty. Don't even think about it. Sigh. This demon is exasperating. But the younger brother-they had to be brothers-looked kinda cute. I stuck out a tongue at him, picked up some kana that were lying on the floor and threw them at him. Each kunai shot around him, each missing him by an inch. When they shifted their focus away from the flying kunais back to me, I had disappeared-or rather, Yami had wrapped with a dense layer of shadow and whisked me away quickly.
That was immature, she said. Well, I was seven years old, so who could blame me?
Day four, I came across two girls, one blonde and one pink-haired (pink?) I couldn't tell if they were arguing or just having a heated conversation, but they seemed to be friends. Then both of them looked up at the same time. It was noon, and the shadows there were scarce except for in the trees, so I wasn't fully covered by the shadows. Next thing I knew, I was being chased by these two annoyed girls, apparently for a crime so minor, I was a bit freaked out by their intensity. Apparently, just being caught standing half a metre away from the Uchiha boy means certain doom. The girls in Konoha sure are scary.
Ah, but you're also a 'girl in Konoha', Yami commented lazily.
And I'm pretty sure I'm scary, what with Yami and all... And I'm also prone to being attacked by scarier people (the fact that these people are considered 'normal' makes them all the scarier) daily.
Day five, I met a boy who reminded me of Yami-he ate so much! Sure, I can eat a lot. But he eats even more than I do! Plus, he was kinda plump. No, that was an understatement.
He's fat. Short, blunt and frank. And Yami just had to say that aloud. But of course, everyone knows shadows don't speak... So who do they blame for speaking? The person in the shadows-me. This was my fourth time being chased around Konoha, this time by a furious plump boy who took offense in what Yami said. Well of course he did. Who wouldn't get angry when being called 'fat'? All this running was really training my stamina. Thankfully, I managed to lose him in the crowd and retreated back into the shadows where I'll be safe-except that even the shadows doesn't seem to provide much of a shield these days.
Day six, I bumped into another girl while looking for food. This girl had dark hair cut into a cute bob and pale eyes. And she had a cute blush. After muttering a "Gomenasai" she hurried away. Finally! Someone who didn't try to kill me when they meet me! The funny thing was, almost all these attackers of mine were around my age.
Another clan with a kekkei genkai! Huh?
That girl's a Hyuuga. She has the Byakugan eyes! ... I shall not bother asking her what that means.
That day, I met another boy my age who gave no inclination of wanting to attack me, probably because he was just sitting on a bench staring at the sky. He looked really lazy. In the end, I spent the rest of my afternoon with that boy watching the clouds and making idle conversation. What a pleasant change. It was nice to be out in the warm sun, enjoying the breeze and not having to run off because someone or something was after me. It has really been a long time since I last relaxed and hung out with someone. In fact, this was the second person I have ever hung out with before, the first being... ... ... Sigh.
I found out his name was Shikamaru, and he could do some stuff with shadows too. He didn't pry either, which was nice. But he did ask if I intended to join the Academy. I told him that learning to be a ninja would be kinda cool. We both agreed that that'd be kinda troublesome too. I like this guy already.
It has been week since I arrived in Konoha. The seventh day was also the most eventful. On this day, I met three people. The first was a blonde boy with markings on his cheeks. He was running and laughing and crashed into into me as we both rounded a corner in an alleyway.
Oh! Kitsune Kurama. It's been awhile, Yami said while chuckling as the boy and I crashed into each other. I had a feeling she wasn't talking to me though.
Ryuu Yami. Is this your new host? The answer came as an echo, similar to what Shukaku sounded like in my head when we were in Suna. Kitsune? I looked at the boy. So this boy had to be the host of the Kyuubi. And Kurama must be his name. (A/N: By the way, Kurama is the name of the Kyuubi~ its mentioned in the latest chapter scan of Naruto, for those who haven't read it yet)
Hai! And she's my best host yet. Been with her since she was a few months old, Yami replied cheerfully. Wait, so Yami was a dragon? She always appeared in the form of a nekomata, so I never found out what her real form was but... A dragon? A ten-tailed dragon?
That's more than eight years. Not bad. She looks like you in human form too. Except for the eye color. Such violet. Is she-
Hey, stop talking as if I'm not here. What's this boy's name?
... Naruto. You're quite an interesting kid, I'd say. And by the way, I don't think the boy knows of my existence yet, the Kyuubi said wryly. Poor boy.
"Ehehehehe~" chuckled the boy, Naruto, sheepishly as he rubbed the back of his head. "Gomenasai."
"Ah. Daijoubu. Be more careful next time," I simply replied, even though I knew that it wasn't really his due to his carelessness that we collided. The boy happily nodded and was about to continue running off, but he paused.
"Ne~ are you new here?" he asked me, curiously.
"Umm... Yes? I came here just one week ago," I replied, while trying to analyze Naruto's character. Cheerful. Hyperactive. Friendly.
Loud. Mischievous. Reckless, added the Kyuubi irritably... Yami went into fits of laughter.
"Oh! Okay, I gotta go now. See ya around!" the boy said. "Wait, what's your name?"
"Akuma-chan! Hurry! Get him!" yelled a voice which I recognized. Running down the street towards Naruto was a girl with short spiky gold-brown hair and fiery amber eyes. The same girl I met two years ago in Iwa. Behind her was her companion, the girl with long pale-blonde hair and emerald eyes. I looked back at Naruto who was already making a dash for it. I had no doubt that 'Akuma-chan' was referring to me and that I was supposed to help them catch the boy. Reaching out with tendrils of shadow, I caught the boy's shadow and trapped him there.
"Tag!" shouted the fire-girl as she pounced onto the boy. "Yo, Akuma-chan. Didn't expect to see you again."
"Hey, your eyes are different from the time we last met!" exclaimed the rose-girl. I grinned. Two more people who haven't tried to kill me in Konoha, though they did try to in Iwa.
"Oh yeah! Weren't they red and blue last time? Now they're violet!" Fire-girl agreed.
"First of all, what are you guys doing here?" I asked.
"Our parents died last year and left us in the Hokage's care cuz even though I was born in Kumo and Hana-chan was born in Kusa, my mum and her dad are from here, and used to know the Hokage well," explained Fire-girl. "And now we're sharing an apartment two buildings away from Naruto-kun's"
"Oh. Okay..." I said, unsure of what else to say. Hana-chan must be the name of the rose-girl. How fitting.
"Ne~ what about you? And what's your name? I don't think we actually introduced ourselves last time... Hehe," the fire-girl said, sounding like a sheepish Naruto. I swear the two of them seemed to be getting increasingly similar the more I get to know them.
"Umm..." Now how should I answer her? I told Gaar-the people in Suna that I was called Kurai-ko by most. That was true... But now I was pretty sure that wasn't the name my parents gave me. 'Kurai-ko' was just a nickname, just like 'Akuma-chan'.
"Chizuki," a voice said from behind me. I turned around to see a tall guy. A tall old guy. The same one I saw when on my first night in Konoha. The Third Hokage.
He was smiling at us children and seemed a lot less... Intimidating in the daylight. I have a feeling he still remembered the night he found me in Konoha one week ago. And now I also have a feeling he knew that I had sneaked into the village that night. Was there a punishment for illegal entry into the village? Definitely. But a child should be excused... Right? I didn't want to be chased out of here just when the village has changed from somewhere unwelcoming into someplace wonderful. I had found friends here.
"I must say, I didn't expect to see you in this village again. And I definitely didn't expect to find you sneaking in by yourself at night after seven years of disappearance," the Hokage said. I stared up at him.
"You sent my family away to hide," I said. I didn't mean to sound accusing-I wasn't blaming anyone-but I did.
"I expected to hear news from your parents over the years when you are in hiding, but I heard nothing. I didn't find out until a few days ago that right on the day you left, you were ambushed," the Hokage replied. "That wasn't supposed to happen. I must apologize. I'm quite surprised that after all that, you seem quite fine and well."
"I wandered around the different countries and villages for awhile. Yami looked after me. But a few months ago, I stayed with the Kazekage's youngest son in Suna," I said. "Then I left and came here."
"I see... Well now I'm obligated to have you in my care. You can stay here in Konoha. I'll arrange for you to stay with Hanaha and Akirai-The three of you will be given a new place to stay. The current apartment will be too small to hold all three of you. It appears the three if you have met before?"
"Yea... In Iwa," I said awkwardly. I wasn't sure how to react. I was being offered a place to stay! In Konoha! With the first two friends I'd ever made! As a citizen of Konoha! The others-Hana-chan, the Fire-girl I now knew was called Akirai, and Naruto-were all staringly blankly at the two of us. I don't think any of them expected to end up listening to all this. It occurred to me that all four of us were all orphans and the care for all of us were the Hokage's duty.
"Is that so? Well, do you have any... Questions or problems?" the Hokage replied with a strange expression I couldn't decipher. Was it curiosity or maybe wariness? I shook my head. "If not, then the three of you can move your new home tonight. The apartment should be ready by evening. Oh, and... Are you interested in joining the Academy?"
"The Academy? For shinobi?" I double-checked. Konoha seemed to be getting better every second. "Of course I am!"
The Hokage smiled. "Then I shall be enrolling you into the Academy tomorrow."
Tomorrow? Wow. I was going to learn to be a kunoichi! Next time I meet that idiot of a brother (that goes by the name of Kankuro and plays with dolls), I'm so gonna kick his ass! Aki-chan and the others were now congratulating me. Even Yami was cheering inside my head.
"All three of you have joined the Academy already?" I asked.
"We joined one month after we came to Konoha last year," Hanaha replied gaily. "We want to properly learn how to control our abilities."
"And learn all the cool things ninjas learn!" added Aki-chan.
"And I'm gonna become Hokage one day! Believe it!" crowed Naruto. This boy was so different from the other jinchuriki I knew. I'd say he's the opposite of...
Gaara. His name is Gaara, Yami reminded me. Yes, his name was Gaara, but somehow, I still thought of him as Desert Boy, the innocent friend I had whose naïveté was destroyed by everyone around him, including me. And what was I doing now? Wandering around and making friends, while he was stuck in a village that hated him with no friends at all. I wonder how's he doing now in Suna. It was likely he'd join their village's Academy too. Well, no point worrying now. We'll meet again one day, and maybe then I'll be able to correct my mistake... Or do as much correction as possible.
Life is so sweet and beautiful, especially now when I've finally got so many friends, a proper home, a family. You tend to count three or four as a lot, when you previously had less than none, then gained one, only to lose that one later. I don't think I could have fully appreciated the joy of that moment when all four of us raced to the ramen shop, laughing and screaming, if I hadn't first lost my parents and had to live on the streets with a pleasant-enough demon for company. Honestly, if not for the bitterness and the sourness of life, the sweet would have no taste.
... You know what? I'm going into hibernation, Yami grumbled. I laughed. This was why I liked her: she cares nothing for joy but never does anything to dampen mine.
Goodnight, I replied cheerfully. Sweet nightmares.
Hmph. Make sure you don't kill yourself in too much happiness. You never know when you might actually laugh your head off-literally. I'd like to wake up and find my host still in perfect condition.
Oh don't I just love her humour. I have a feeling her definition of 'perfect condition' doesn't include 'an almost constant state of bliss and euphoria' though.
That's all for now~ Will update late next week~ Please review!